Loose leaf or card index device.



APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1915.

Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

K. L. EDDY. LOOSE LEAF 0R CARD INDEX DEVICE.

APPLICAHON FILED HAY H. 1915- Patented June 6, 1916.

1 9 I 4 suns-91in 2.

'"H llllll] W W-M K. L. EDDY.

LOOSE LEAF 0R CARD INDEX DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1915.

Patented June 6,1916.

4 SHEETS-SMEET 3.

N\N \NWNM f u m K. L. EDDY. LOOSE LEAF on cum INDEX DEVICE.

Agrucmon mm an n. 1915.

' Patented June 6, 1916.

; SHEETS-SHE 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KENNETH L. Emmor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASBIG-NOB, BY ASSIGNMENTS, '10AUTOMATIC UTILITIES COMPANY, OF C HICAGO, 1111111018,. A CORPORATIONLOOSE LEA!" on can!) INDEX :onvrcn.

Patented June a, 1916.

i Application filed Kay 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,5.

To all whom it may concern citizen of'the United States, and a residentof Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Loose Leaf or Card Index Devices;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactde scription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to'the letters of reference marked t ereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf or card indexdevices and consists of the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention relates to a loose leaf or card index device whichcomprises a cabinet having an index card or plate fixed to the outerface of one side or end, a plurality of loose leaves or cards havingcorresponding indexes supported in the cabinet in planes parallel to thesaid side or end, and an operating device which is movable with respectto the cabinet index card. Said operating device is adapted to coactwith index clips attached to the loose leaves or cards in such a waythat it constitutes a finder or selector and by its operation acts tosegregate all cards corresponding to a certain index character, whatevertheir location in the cabinet may be.

The index card on the cabinet may be providedywith one or more sets ofindex characters and the cards are likewise provided with the same setsof haracters. In the example illustrated herein. the cabinet index cardand likewise the cards themselves are provided with two sets of indexcharacters. namely, an alphabetical set and a numerical set. Thus thesubject matter on the cards may be indexed, both alphabetically andnumerically, and the numbers may be used to indicate subject matter sothat the nuna-rical index will constitute a subject matter index.

Other kinds of indexes may be provided and if desired, the cabinet maybe built to ])i'o,\'i(lc more than two of indexes.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the index clipsare attached at the bottom margins of the cards, and the operatingdevice or finder includes a frame which is expandible verticall so thatupon the proper manipulation 0 an operatln arm that projects out of thecabinet, sai

frame will act to raise the cards correspondin to,the desired indexcharacter above the ot er cards. This expanding frame is mounted on acarriage extending lon 'tudinally of the cabinet beneath the car s andis movable transversely of the cabinet. Said carriage rides on tracks orrails fixed within the cabinet.

The object of the present invention is addressed more particul rly toimprovements in the operating devic kor finder to the end of improvingits opera ion and of making its action more accurate and certain andalso forthe purpose of chea ening inizing t e cost of manil acturmg thesame. This and other objects and advantages of my invention will appearmore clearly as I proceed with my specification.

In the draw1ngs:Fig re 1 is a perspective view of my improved card indexcabinet. Fig. 2 is a view representing a front elevation of the same.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the cards used in the indexcabinet. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cabinet with the top removed.

and econo- Fig. 5 is a view representing a trans-- verse verticalsection through the cabinet in a plane indicated by the line 5-4) ofFig. 4. Fig: 6 is a view representing a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the cabinet in a plane indicated by the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts shown in adifferent relation. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carriage used inthe cabinet, said carriage being shown on fragments of the tracks onwhich it rides. Figs. 9 and 10are views representing vertical sectionsthrough one of the bearing blocks of the carriage, said sections beingindicated by the lines 9-9 and 10-10 respectively in Fig. 5. Fig. 11 isa detail perspective View on an enlarged scale of one of the cli sapplied to the bottom edges of the can s. Fig. 12 is a Viewrcprcscntingfiin perspective the front plate (in the cabinet as saidplate appears when looking at the same from the rear.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in thedrawings:.-20

J2. having a handle or knob indicates the camnct, which contains theloose index leaves or cards and the operating device or tinder forsegregating all leaves or cards corresponding to any certain indexcharacter from the rest of the leaves or cards in the cabinet. Thecabinet consists of an oblong box :31. open at the top and having sidewalls 2'2. 22. rearend wall 23, front end wall 24 and a bolt in wall 25.A removable cover 26 is preferably provided to close the cabinet andkeep out dust,

()n the front end wall 24 of the cabinet is fixed an index platefili'..\s above stated, this index plate as illustrated herein. is constructedto provide two sets of index characters, namely. a set of alphalmti alcharacters and a set of numerical charm'ters. Thus the cards or leavesmay be indexed both alphalutically and munerically or according toeither of said indexes alone.

28 indicates the alphabetical index. and 29. the numerical index. dexmay be made to accord with certain heads or subjects, with each numeralindicating a particular head or subject. i

The characters of each index are arranged in a horizontal line extendingtramsversely 'of the plate 27, and are :u-curately spaced in said lineto correspond with the spacing of teetlr30 placed at the top and bottomedges of a horizontal |ot ill in the plate 27. 'lhrough this slotprojects an operating arm 32$ for ease in grasping it, which arm. aswill be shown later. is connected to an expanding frame mounted on thecarriage within the cabinet. A second slot 31 is formed in the plate 27between the two lines of index characters 28. 29 and through this slotprojects a rod carrying a pointer 35, which is movable transversely ofthe cabinet with the carriage and with the arm 32. This pointer isdouble headed. each head being associated with one of the sets of indexcharacters. As shown, the spaces containing the characters of the twosets of index characters are arranged in staggered relation, eachcharacter of one set being located vertically below (or above) a pointhalf way between two adjacent characters of the other index and the.teeth 30 in the edges of the slot 31 are spaced apart at distances equalto half the distances at which the characters of the two indexes arespaced. This arrangement provides for a maximum (if-longitudinal spacefor the index charm-ters, with a minimum of lengths of space for saidcharacters, and also provides for a maximum total number of indexcharacters.

36 indicates as a whole the carriage, upon which is mounted theexpansible frame that constitutes part of the operating mechanism. Saidcarriage is mounted to ride on tracks or rails 37, 38. spacedrespectively :uljaceut to the front and rcarcnd walls of the cabilhenumerical innet and fixed transversely on the bottom wall thereof.

39, *0 indicate the end frame members or end blocks of the carriage.Each of said blocks is of the same construction so that a description ofone will sutlice for both Each block has a longitudinally extendinggroove 41 at the bottom which groove is rectangular in cross section andis made to embrace the associated track 37 (38) which engages within it.is formed by a flat vertical flange 43 which engages against the flatinner face 43 of the associated rail. The opposite side of said grooveis also formed by a Hat vertical flange Hvbut the flange in this casehas a longitudmall v extending horizontal shoulciated track. he saidshoulder and groove provide the supporting bearing for the end 'frame ofthe carriage member on the associated rail. thetop wall of the groove 41having no bearing whatever on the top of the said rail. At the top ofthe rail are provided rack teeth 46 which are engaged by a pinion 47(see Fig. 9) keyed to the end of a shaft 48 that extends longitudinallyof the carriage and that has lvaring in the two end frame members orblocks. The blocks recessed above the groove 41 to receive the pinionii. A rod 49 spaced laterally from the shaft 48 constitutes the meansfor rigidly connecting the end frame members or blocks of the carriagetogether. 'Said rod is riveted at its' outer ends against the outerfaces of the frame blocks and holds theshouhlers on said blocks inproper posi-' tion relative to their respective tracks or rails. 1

It is to be understood that the bearing for the. carriage on the railsis provided entirely by the shoulders 45 and the grooves 45 in the outerfaces of the rails within which said shoulders engage. and that thepinions -17 have no bearing upon the racks with which they are engagedbutare merely ellective so far as the horizontal position of thecarriage on the tracks is concerned.

It will be manifest from the construction descrilwd that when the frontend frame or block of the carriage is moved on its associated rail. itsmovement will cause a rotative movement to be imparted to the shaft 48by reason of the engagement of the rack teeth 46 with the pinion 47. atthe front end of said shaft. This movement will be comu'lllnicated tothe pinion 47 at the rear end of said shaft and said pinion. by its enagment. with the rack on 'the rear rail or track. will produce a movementof the rear end block or franie member It! on its" rail 39 corresmmdingexactlyrto the movemeiit of the front end framelneinber. By reason ofthis construction, the slightest lateral movement of the front end ofthe carriage will be communicated in exactly" like amount in rlage. I

Such exact coaction between the front and rear ends of the carriage isessential in this type of apparatus, since the true alinement of theexpansion frame is required in order that the finder may simultaneouslyand with the same movement engage the index clips of all the cardsbearing said clips in the same position-on said cards.

The construction described absolutely prevents not only anydistortionbetween the front and rear'end frame members of the carriage but alsoeliminates any tendency for either of the two end frame members .to bindagainst their respective rails.

()n the carriage is mounted the expansion frame 50, which has beenhereinbefore referred toand which is adapted to raise above and thussegregate from the other loose leaves or'cards in the cabinet thosecorresponding'to the index character in line with which said expansionframe is brought. Said frame comprises a top bar 7 51, a bottom bar 52,and two link connections formed by bars 53. 53. connected respectivelyto-said top and bottom bars near their front endsjn the manner of aparallel Vertical slots 54, 54. are formed 'in the opposite faces of theend frame blocks-39, 40, and the top bar'51 of the aforesaid expansionframe engages within said slots in such manner as to be capable of avertical movement only. The ends of said bar 51 engage against the endwall 154' of said slots. The bottom bar 52 is located in tlte plane ofsaid slots but is incapable of vertical movement, projecting at itsforward end through a hole or open-;

ing 55 in the front block and having bearing at its rear end in a holeor opening 56 through which it is adapted to extend when pushed home aspresently to be described.

The forward projecting end of the bottom" .bar 52 constitutes theoperating arm 32 above referred to.

- en the operating arm 32 is pushed inward y with respect to thecabinet, that is tosay, in such manner as to push the bottombar 52 ofthe expanding framelongitudin'ally toward'the rear of the cabinet, itwill be manifest that, as the top bar 51 is incapable'of longitudinalmovement. it

will be raised by'thelinks 53. A shoulder 32. is formed on the operatingarm 32 at a point in advance of the front frame block and this shoulderis adapted to strike. the front face of said block and thus limit therearward movement of the bottom operating bar of the expanding fiame andstop further movement of the topbarm. The operating member is normallyheld 1n its either direction to the rear end of said caroutermostposition by means of a tension spring 57 placed atone side of theexpansion frame and arranged to connect the bottom bar 52 with the frontblock 39.

Top and bottom transverse notches 32" are formed in the operating arm3.2 in such position that when the operating arm is at its outermostposition, said notches will be located in the plane of the rack teeth 30in the slot 31 of the cabinet index plate. For

ward of these notches the operating a rm'is 7 of the cabinet in eitherdirection by means of the handle 33 so as to bring the pointer 35opposite any one of the index characters of either of the indexes on theindex plate.

If the operating arm 32 be then pnshmh inwardly the top and bottomV-shapcd edges 32 on said arm \Vlll engage the teeth 31 in the slot 30and properly center the carriage in a position corresponding to thecenter position of said index character and also look the carriage inthat position. The inward movement of the operating arm aiso, as hasbeen pointed out. raises the top bar 51 of the expansion frame onthe'carriage to a level where it will engage suchindex clips on thebottoms of the cards as correspond in-their position on said cards tothe position of the index character on the index plate of the cabinet.

61 indicates the loose leaves or cards of the device and 60' the indextabs or clips applied to the bottom edges thereof. The said cards arefilled and printed along their bot tom marginal parts to provide sets ofindex characters 28". 29 corresponding respectively both in kind and inposition to the sets of index characters on the cabinet index plate. Theclips are adapted to be attached to the cards in positions oppositeanyone of the characters on the cards and-'may be inadeof any suitableconstruction making them capable of easy attachment. As shown and'astbev are preferably made, each ciip consists of a. short narrow plate ofthin metal slightly widerfat its dipper end and punehedfto "provide anopening '60 to dis-- close the ind'eiceharacter to which it is to be;

applied. the punched 'out part 60" being bent out of the pl'aneaif thefront part to provide a member for engagement with the rear side of thecard. The clip is notched at its lower endrfor engagement with the topbar 5! of the expansion frame on the carriage. As

many clips may be applied to each index be applied to each cardcorresponding to the letter under which the subject matter on the cardisindexed alphabetically, and a second clip may be applied in a positioncorresponding to the number which indicates the subject matter underwhich said card is to be indexed.

Manifestly when the operating bar is brought to a certain positioncorresponding to any of the index characters on the index plate of thecabinet and is pushed inwardly.

the top bar 51 of the expansion frame will be raised and will engage theclips on the cards and thus elevate all the cards having clips in likelocations above the other cards in the cabinet.

The cards are preferably reinforced by metal strips 62jwhich are bentabout the end edges of the cards so as to embrace opposite facesthereof. T'cse strips when made in this way not only act to reinforcesaid edges, but also act to properly space the cards so that when a cardis inserted between two others. the index clip or clips at the bottommargin of the cards will not engage against the clips of adjacent cardsand thus obstruct the insertion of said. cards. Said strips also act toproperly space the cards at their upper edges and oflset the effeet ofthe thickness of theelips located at the bottom edges of the cards. Thecards ,are supported in the cabinet bv longitudinally extending bars orstrips (33 which, as shown, are fixed to the side walls of the cabinet.Said bars support the cards in a position such that the indexelips arevertically removable from the top bar 51 of the expansion frame in theordinary position of'the parts.

flvhile in describing my invention 1 have referred to certain details ofmechanical,

-construetion and arrangement, it is to be understood thattheyi'nvention is to be in no way limited thereto except as pointedoutin the appended claims.

i I claim as my invention 1. In a card index device of the kinddescribed, in combination with the cabinet, and the cards supportedtherein, a carriage movable transversely of the cabinet, said carriageincluding a vertical expansible block thereof. r

2. In a card index device of the kind de scribed, in combination withthe cabinet, and the cards supported therein, a carriage movabletransversely of the cabinet, said carriage including a verticalexpansible frame, and an operating ,arm for expandin said frame, saidcarriage including end b ocks, rails extending transversely of saidcabinet, interengaging parts providing bearing of said end blocks onsaid rails, each rail being provided with a. rack, a shaft extendinglon- 1 gitudinally of the carriage and having bearing in'said endblocks, and pinions, one for each end block,.fixed to said shaft andengaged \Yltllsilid racks, said pin-ions providing no bearing for saidend blocks.

3. Ina card index device of the kind described, in combination with thecabinet, and the cards supported therein, a carriage movabletransversely of the cabinet, said carriage including a verticalexpansihle frame, and an operating arm for expanding said frame, saidcarriage including end blocks, tracks provided with racks fixedtransversely in said cabinet, a shaft extending longitudinally of saidcarriage rotativelyinounted in said end blocks, pinions,

. one for each end block, fixed to saidrshait ing said frame. saidcarriage including end blocks, tracks provided with racks .fixed'transversely in said cabinet, a sliattextending longitudlnally oi saidcarriage rotativcly mounted in said end blocks, pinions,

one for each end block, tixed to said shaft and engaged with said rackbut providing no bearing for said end blocks, and means providingsliding bearing for said end blocks on said tracks, said means beingconstructed to prevent vertical displacement of said end blocks.

5. In a card index device. of the kind dcscribcd, in combination withthe; cabinet,

amlthc cards supported therein, a carriage movable transversely of thecabinet, said carriage including a vertical expansible frame. and anoperating arm for expanding said frame, said carriage including endblocks, rails tixed insaid cabinet and exti-nding transversely thereof,said rails being providi'ld with ldngitudinally extending grooveslocutcdi'bclow their top edges and with racks atlhcir top ltlgtfi,." j:lltlblocks being provided with shoulders that provide ,tllt! sole bearingengagement. for said end blocks on said rails, a shaft extendinglongitudinally of said carriage and having bean -riage including avertical expansible frame,

and an operatingarm for expanding said frame, an index plate on saidcabinet pro vided with a slot through which said operating arm projects,said index plate having one or more sets of index characters arranged inspaced relation parallel to said slot, an index head movable with saidframe o er said index plate, said slot being provided with teethgraduated to correspond with the spacing of said index characters, said0pcrating arm being provided with a longitudinally extending edgeadapted for engagement with the teeth in said slot; for centering andlocking sreid in when it is brought into a position corresponding withthe position of an index character,

In a. card index dcv of the kind dcscribed, in combination with thecabinet, and the cards supported therein a carriage movable'vansverselzv' of the cabinet, said carriage including a vertical"pans-ibie frame, and an operating arm for expanding said frame, anindex" plate on said cabinet pro vided we? a throngs chi-eh saidoperating arm projecte, said index plate having one or more sets ofindex (dint-actors arranged in spaced relation parallel to said slot, anindex head movable with said frame over said index plate, said slotbeing provided with teeth graduated. to correspond Vl ith the spacing ofsaid index chm-hotel's, said opcrating arm being provided with alongitudinally extending edge adapted for engage ment with the teeth insaid slot for centering and. locking arm when it is brought into ioncorresponding with the position, of index character, and an index clipac p d for nttacbment to said cards, each cl? eaid index clips beingnotched at their bottom ends for engagement with the rising member ofsaid expansion frame. 1 v

8. Ina card index devide of kind {10* scribed, in combination withacabinet prg vided with an index plate on its, exterior j plurality ofcards located within said if;- net, an operating device locatedwithinsaid cabinet and having an arm projecting without said cabinet andassociated with the cabinet index plate, said operating device conprising a carriage consisting of end b (mks,- means rigidly connectingsaid end blocks, a vertically ex ansible frame su ported in said endbloc s and being capab e of transverse movement with the carriage .inJ-cabinet, said expansible frame including a bar capable of verticalmovement in said blocks but being incapable of endw'rse movement, asecond bar capable of endwise move- Inent but incapable of verticalmovement and links connecting said bars.

9 in a card index device of the kind described, in combination with acabinet having an index plate, a lurality of cards located within saidcabinet and having corresponding indexes, an operating device locatedwithin said cabinet and havin an arm projecting without said cabinet anassociated with the cabinet index plate, said operatin device comprisinga carriage consisting 0 end blocks, means rigidly connecting and blocks,a verticall ex ans ble frame supported in said end loo rails fixed insaid cabinet, means providing sliding bearing of said blocks on saidrails, a. shaft having bearin in said blocks, pinions fixed to saidshaft in the neighborhood of each block, and racks on said tracks engaed by said pinions but providing no bearingdietween said carriage andsaid tracks.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aifix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this llth day of May, A. D.1915.

KENNETH L. EDDY? Witnesses:

1. H. ALrnnns, KARL W, Donn.

